Thompson returns to ring Saturday as part of Kovalev undercard

There are no more easy fights really for Buffalo light heavyweight Lionell Thompson. Such is the life of a boxer who is ranked among the top 15 in the world.

The 28-year-old Thompson’s latest challenge will be part of Saturday night’s Sergey Kovalev-Cedric Agnew championship boxing card on HBO. Thompson (15-2-0, 9 KOs), who is now ranked eighth by the World Boxing Association and 14th by the World Boxing Council, faces unbeaten Radivoje Kalajdzic (14-0-0, 10 KOs) in a 10-round contest at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. The fight is not scheduled to be televised.

Thompson enters the contest having won his last three fights since losing to now world champion Kovalev back in September 2012.

Thompson impressed many back in December when he earned a win via decision over Ryan Coyne. Coyne, a lefty, was ranked No. 9 by the WBA at the time of the fight, while Thompson was No. 20 in the WBC poll.